Buzz About Us

WeWork shares a creator story, with Wen Yao, from their Yunnan Road location in Shanghai where POWWFUL is in preparation for expanding into the Asian market. In this fast-paced contemporary society, each of us is anxious about how to make "right" choices, while creators choose to start their own lives.

Is this the year you're going to—finally—make the difference in your health? Here is a guide to staying focused on fitness from former couch potatoes who made it happen for themselves.

POWWFUL's powerful co-founder, Lotika Pai, talks about the role running plays in her life. "Don't compare yourself to others." Six years ago, Lotika Pai had a lot on her plate as a new mom and an investment banker. Then a friend suggested running, inspiring her to sign up for a beginner's program. "Running in a group provided me with a structure to get started, people to hold me accountable for showing up to our group run sessions, and gave me a specific plan for other individual workouts to tackle during the week. I was hooked," she shared. Now, logging miles is a critical part of her life; it also helps her cope with her chronic illnesses (insulin resistance and polycystic ovarian syndrome). She also has built a new career that allows her to spend time with her family. "For a long time I allowed myself to be intimidated by the people working out around me," she says "You can't compare your day one or even your day 50 to someone else's day 365. When it comes to fitness, no body shape is better than another. Just as no workout is better than another. What is important is actually doing something," she says. "I learned to define my own individual fitness journey through running. I run slowly and I run short distances, but I get up, get out, keep getting stronger and I love it."

Many women have had a complicated relationship with sports bras. Straps, hooks, padding, and bands can be uncomfortable and just plain awkward. But times are changing. As Time once said, a sports bra renaissance is upon us.

At #12: The Lift, moisture-wicking sports bra by Powwful ($36)

In July we introduced POWWFUL, a new Chicago based sports bra company into our stores that focuses on style just as much as support. The brand uses architectural and cultural icons across Chicago and uses them in their designs. At $36, these sports bras have been a customer and staff favorite at our Fleet Feet Sports Old Town store.

This sports bra is so playful you’ll want to workout just so you can wear it. The unique back detail means it’ll look just as cute peeking out from your tank at brunch as it did during spin.

❤️ POWWFUL, now available at Fleet Feet Sports ❤️

POWWFUL is a Chicago-based company who thinks about sports bras a bit differently. With designs inspired by architectural and cultural icons across Chicago, these sports bras will help you power through working out looking good and feeling good. Made using a buttery soft technical fabric that will feel like silk against your skin, and priced at a very affordable $36, these four new styles are available atFleet Feet Sports Old Town.

They're now gearing up to launch their second line of apparel which will be a "visual representation of women taking up space in their lives and being unapologetic for it," said Pai. This will include both sports bras, open back tops, and full-sleeve tops.

When I first saw the backs of the sports bras from POWWFUL, my heart skipped a beat. I’m not sure what it is about a criss-crossed, strappy sports bra that makes me want to ditch my shirt and join the #sportsbrasquad, but I love them. And POWWFUL’s message is just as perfect...

In the spirit of March Madness we wanted to take a look at some of the sports startups making moves in Chicago. Powwful's line of colorful sports bras are made with flatlock seams that prevent chafing, and come with high-performance breathable, sweat-wicking fabric with four-way stretch.